Det. 303, 495th FG stands up at Whiteman AFB

by Senior Airman Wesley Wright
442nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs

3/4/2013 - WHITEMAN AFB, Mo. -- The 442nd Fighter Wing's active-duty associate unit, Detachment 2, 23rd Fighter Group, is scheduled to reorganize and stand up as Det. 303, 495th Fighter Group, March 8.

Lt. Col. Joshua B. Ruddell, 23rd FG, Det. 2 commander, is leading the reorganization on the ground here.

"One of the efforts the Air Force is going toward in Total Force Integration is combining organizations," he said. "They are moving us out from under Moody AFB, Ga., and putting us under this new group at Shaw AFB, S.C."

Ruddell said the new organization will deliver the same outstanding air power with a new, leaner structure.

"The benefit is a streamlining of efforts, whether it's policy or procedures, for how active-associates conduct business," he said. "As far as us doing our daily job here, there will be no change."

Being on an active-duty base will make the transition much easier, Ruddell said. "The detachment will be able to go to the 509th Bomb Wing for base operating support while relying on the new chain of command through Shaw AFB for administrative support.

Ruddell said the reorganization could potentially save the government money.

"Streamlining means efficiency, which I think will save taxpayers' dollars," he said. "That's the goal. Additionally, we are going to be leveraging technology - using virtual briefs and meetings, sharing information that way. By cutting down on physical trips, this also saves money."

To for the transition, Ruddell said he and his team are busy getting all the pieces in place.

"We're making sure our roster is up to speed, making sure command and control will be in place from day one and we are working on our budget and spending plans now," he said. "We have wonderful resources here to work with here in the 509th BW and the 442nd FW."

The choice of 495th FG for the detachment is not coincidental. According to the Air Force Historical Research Agency, the 495th FG was originally established as the 495th Fighter Training Group, Oct. 9, 1943 and disbanded April 15, 1945. The 495th was picked over another FG, the 496th, due to its longer length of service.

With this rich history behind them, and the active-association reorganization ahead, the Airmen of Det. 303, 495th FG will continue to deliver outstanding airpower and Total Force Integration strength to the 442 FW.

Source (No photos included)

Related background info:

Shaw gains new fighter group

by 9th Air Force Public Affairs

3/7/2013 - SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. -- The 495th Fighter Group will stand up during an activation ceremony here March 8 at 9:45 a.m. at the Carolina Skies Club and Conference Center.

The 495th Fighter Group's activation is part of the Air Force's ongoing initiative to integrate traditional, active-duty Airmen with Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve units to streamline training and resource use. Such integrated units are called active associate units. The 495th Fighter Group staff will be headquartered here. The group will guide 10, 9th Air Force-affiliated, active associate fighter detachments co-located with host Guard and Reserve units across the country.

Five years ago, Air Force leaders recognized a changing force structure and budget constraints demanded creative ways to generate experienced fighter pilots. Their solution was to leverage the Guard's and Reserve's experience, continuity and assets through an initiative called Total Force Integration.

Media members who wish to cover the activation ceremony must RSVP to 9th Air Force Public Affairs office via e-mail, 9afpa.orgbox@afcent.af.mil, or by phone, 895-4322, by 3 p.m. March 7. Attending media must arrive at the Shaw Air Force Base Visitors' Center at the base's Main Gate by 8:15 a.m. March 8. Late arrivals and media members who don't RSVP may be unable to gain access to the base.

Reporters with video camera equipment should bring wireless microphones to best facilitate audio coverage of this event.

Lt. Col. Juris Jansons will officially assume command of the group during the ceremony. Maj. Gen. Lawrence Wells, 9th Air Force commander, 9th Air Force Headquarters, Shaw Air Force Base, will preside over the event. The 9th Air Force comprises eight active-duty wings and two direct reporting units in the Southeastern U.S. with more than 480 aircraft and 28,000 active-duty and civilian personnel.

The 9th Air Force is also responsible for the operational readiness of 13 Air Reserve Component wings.
Source (No photos included)

Shaw stands up new fighter group

by Staff Sgt. Amanda Currier
9th Air Force Public Affairs

3/8/2013 - SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. -- The 495th Fighter Group stood up during an activation ceremony here March 8.

The group's activation is part of the Air Force's ongoing initiative to integrate traditional, active-duty Airmen with Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve units to streamline training and resource use. Such integrated units are called active associate units.

The 495th Fighter Group, headquartered here, is responsible for guiding 10 active associate, 9th Air Force-affiliated fighter detachments located at host Guard and Reserve units across the country. These units pair traditional active-duty fighter pilots and aircraft maintainers with their Guard and Reserve counterparts to generate efficiency and cost savings by sharing resources and reducing duplication of efforts.

"My job is to make sure the active-duty Airmen and their families assigned to these locations are taken care of" said Lt. Col. Juris Jansons, who took command of the 495th Fighter Group during the activation ceremony.

Prior to the activation ceremony, five of 495th Fighter Group's 10 detachments were already established. Four units flying F-16s in South Carolina, Vermont, Florida and Texas, reported to the 20th Operations Group here. The fifth detachment, flying A-10s in Missouri, reported to the 23rd Operations Group at Moody Air Force Base, Ga.

"The significance of today's event is that it marks, for the first time, the transfer of administrative control for these active associate detachments to one commander - Colonel Jansons," said 9th Air Force Commander Maj. Gen Lawrence Wells, who presided over the ceremony. "In the near future, we will double the number of detachments in his command to 10, when we are joined by detachments located in Colorado, South Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Alabama."

Five years ago, Air Force leaders recognized a changing force structure and budget constraints demanded creative ways to generate experienced fighter pilots. Their solution was to leverage the Guard's and Reserve's experience, continuity and assets through an initiative called Total Force Integration.

"The Air Force created the TFI initiative that assigned active-duty service members to Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve units; we did this to make use of the vast experience already resident in those units - for both operational flying missions and maintenance training. History will show that this will prove to be a mutually beneficial relationship."

The 495th Fighter Group's legacy dates back to Work War II to the 495th Fighter Training Group, established in England on Oct. 9, 1943. Then, the group flew and maintained the P-47 Thunderbolt. After World War II, the 495th Fighter Training Group was disbanded April 15, 1945, due to the end of fighting in the European theater.

"Just like a Phoenix rising from its ashes, today the 495th Fighter Group rises again, proudly displaying its World War II heritage and taking on a mission our Air Force so desperately needs," General Wells said.

"We are focusing on that next generation of warrior leaders who are going to champion this TFI endeavor. That will be the legacy of this group," said Colonel Jansons, a command pilot with more than 2,000 flying hours in the F-16.

Currently established 495th Fighter Group detachments
· Detachment 93, Homestead Air Reserve Base, Fla.
· Detachment 134, Burlington International Airport, Vt.
· Detachment 157, McEntire Joint National Guard Base , S.C.
· Detachment 303, Whiteman Air Force Base, Miss.
· Detachment 457, Naval Air Station Fort Worth Joint Reserve Base, Texas

495th Fighter Group detachments in the process of being created
· Detachment 100, Dannelly Field, Ala.
· Detachment 120, Buckley Air Force Base, Colo.
· Detachment 175, Joe Foss Field, S.D.
· Detachment 176, Dane County Regional Airport, Wis.

Source (including 3 photos)